GAME REPORT

Medias Cruise To Last 16

Ivan Ivanovic steered Gaz Metan Medias into the Last 16 with a game-high 20 points and 12 rebounds

Gaz Metan Medias cruised into the last 16 of the EuroChallenge with a lop-sided 81-58 win over Tartu Rock in Group D.

Gaz Metan Medias cruised into the last 16 of the EuroChallenge with a lop-sided 81-58 win over Tartu Rock in Group D.

After a tight start to the game, the hosts scored the final 10 points of the first half to make it 38-31 at the break, and that set the tone for a dominant performance in the second half.

Ivan Ivanovic scored 20 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to lead them into the next round, while Aleksandar Mladenovic added 18 points.

Tartu, needing a win to boost their own chances of progression, gave as good as they got in a first quarter that finished 18-18 and were beginning to edge clear in the second, leading 29-25 on a big three from Justin Ingram, and then 31-28 on his jump-shot with 3:28 left in the first half.

However, those were the last points they would score in the half.Slobodan Dundjerski hit the free throws that brought Medias level and then the jump-shot that gave them the lead, and two more free-throws from Adrian Gutoaia made it a seven-point lead at the break.

Back-to-back threes from Ivanovic stretched it to 13 as soon as the second half began, and Tartu were never within single figures again, with Medias scoring the final six points of the contest as they added an exclamation mark.

Dundjerski and Deven Mitchell each finished with 15 points for the victors.

Ingram led Tartu with 14 points while Ivan Nelybov had 11.

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COACH QUOTES

Quotes: Gaz Metan Medias vs. Tartu Rock

Tartu Rock player Silver Leppik

"We started pretty well but in the second part of the game we rushed things and they made easy shots. In the third quarter we decided to try to put the ball down, but unfortunately we missed a lot, especially three-points shots. We tried to come back in the game but it isn't our homecourt and it was very difficult. They didn't surprise us with anything, we knew that they can shoot."

Gaz Metan player Ivan Ivanovic

"We expected a hard game and that is how it actually was. We were ready to play hard defence. I think that was the key to our win tonight and also the fact that we succeded in rebounding more than in the away game. We made some important shots and that was good for our morale."

Tartu Rock coach Gert Kullamae

"We started the game really good, then we lost our rhythm because we missed too many easy shots. We played a bad game, especially on offence. Gaz Metan was much better tonight. Our shooters missed a lot and this was a serious problem. I want to congratulate Gaz Metan.''

Gaz Metan coach Marcel Tenter

"It was a very hard game, we were under pressure after the defeat in the Romanian Championship. A chance like this doesn't come often and when it comes we must take it. The victory and the qualification comes at a very important moment for us. This game was like a final for us. It's possible that a new team was born today."

COACH QUOTES

Quotes: Gaz Metan Medias vs. Tartu Rock

Tartu Rock player Silver Leppik

"We started pretty well but in the second part of the game we rushed things and they made easy shots. In the third quarter we decided to try to put the ball down, but unfortunately we missed a lot, especially three-points shots. We tried to come back in the game but it isn't our homecourt and it was very difficult. They didn't surprise us with anything, we knew that they can shoot."

Gaz Metan player Ivan Ivanovic

"We expected a hard game and that is how it actually was. We were ready to play hard defence. I think that was the key to our win tonight and also the fact that we succeded in rebounding more than in the away game. We made some important shots and that was good for our morale."

Tartu Rock coach Gert Kullamae

"We started the game really good, then we lost our rhythm because we missed too many easy shots. We played a bad game, especially on offence. Gaz Metan was much better tonight. Our shooters missed a lot and this was a serious problem. I want to congratulate Gaz Metan.''

Gaz Metan coach Marcel Tenter

"It was a very hard game, we were under pressure after the defeat in the Romanian Championship. A chance like this doesn't come often and when it comes we must take it. The victory and the qualification comes at a very important moment for us. This game was like a final for us. It's possible that a new team was born today."